Syracuse, N.Y. — Former Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord made his NFL debut Thursday in the Philadelphia Eagles’ preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Eagles entered the game with McCord as their fourth-string quarterback and his performance showed why.
The reigning Super Bowl champions rested their starters, leading Tanner McKee to play in the first half, Dorian Thompson-Robinson to play in the third quarter and McCord in the fourth quarter.
McKee finished with 252 yards and two touchdowns while completing 80% of his passes.
Thompson-Robinson went 5-for-8 with 56 yards in limited action.
McCord, though, completed just one of his five passes for 8 yards and an interception.
The Eagles selected McCord with the 181st overall pick in the sixth round of April’s draft, one month after acquiring Thompson-Robinson in a trade with the Cleveland Browns.
With McKee seemingly locked in as Philadelphia’s backup, McCord may have to outperform Thompson-Robinson to make the Eagles’ final cut.
McCord’s competition has one win in five NFL starts, filling in for an injured Deshaun Watson in all five games.
McCord, on the other hand, is coming off a senior season that featured him set the ACC’s single-season passing yards record.
The NFL no longer has weekly cuts in the preseason, meaning McCord may have two more games to earn a roster spot.
His next opportunity to display his talents will be next Saturday against Thompson-Robinson’s former team.
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